WASHINGTON – Atlantic 10 Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade announced Thursday the hiring of Michael Sainte as the Associate Commissioner for Governance, Legislative Membership Support and the promotion of Casey Abashian to Assistant Director of Advanced Media.
 
Sainte will be responsible for all matters involving NCAA, state and federal legislative governance matters, supporting the work of the league’s compliance services, staff coordination and office policies. He will also be the liaison to the A-10 Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs) and coordinate the league’s awards, postgraduate scholarship and grant programs related to conference student services.
 
“It’s a pleasure to welcome Michael to the A-10. His experience at both the conference level and on campus will be a huge asset to us,” stated McGlade. “The future environment related to NCAA governance and compliance is challenging and Michael is extremely strong in working with coaches, student-athletes and administrators.”
 
Sainte joins the Atlantic 10 from member institution Fordham University, where he ran the Compliance Department in all aspects of compliance with the NCAA, A-10, and Patriot League’s rules, regulations and bylaws. Additionally, he served as the primary point of contact for Fordham Rose Hill Exchange, the department's Name, Image and Likeness program.
 
“I am thrilled about the opportunity to return to a conference office,” said Sainte. “We are at an inflection point in our industry and I look forward to working with Commissioner McGlade, Conference Leadership and the membership to chart our course forward and position the league for success in the years to come.”
 
Prior to Fordham, Sainte worked at the Big East Conference from 2017-23. He started his tenure as the Director of Compliance and Membership Services for the conference, where he was responsible for the day-to-day compliance of the Conference and its member institutions. Sainte was promoted to Senior Director in 2019 where his responsibilities included overseeing the Big East Academic Award Program, the Conference’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and execution of academic-based collaborative programming involving the membership.
 
Prior to his arrival at the Big East, Sainte served as Director of Compliance at the University of North Carolina Greensboro from 2015-2017 where he also served as an adjunct instructor. Sainte started his career as a Compliance Coordinator at Georgia State University, serving as a graduate assistant in compliance from 2011-2012 before earning the full-time position later that year.
 
Sainte earned his master’s degree in sports administration from Georgia State in 2012 after collecting his bachelor’s degree from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C., in 2009. In 2021, he was recognized by Georgia State’s Alumni Association as one of its 40 under 40 alums, which celebrates the most influential and impactful Georgia State graduates who embody the values of the University.
 
Abashian earns a promotion to Assistant Director of Advanced Media having served as the A-10’s Advanced Media Intern.
 
In his now full-time role, Abashian will be responsible for all aspects of video production including videography, non-linear editing, storytelling, studio production and original content creation. He will also be integral in managing the conference’s relationship with its streaming partner, ESPN+.
 
“Casey has performed above expectations as an intern this past year. He is a great addition to our advanced media team,” stated McGlade. “He is talented and will bring a fresh creative approach to the brand of the A-10.”
 
In his duties as an intern, Abashian played a pivotal role in the A-10’s increased social media presence during the winter and spring, producing over 100 videos and helping the league’s social accounts generate over two million impressions during the Basketball Championships, while also playing a key role in day-to-day creative strategy.
 
The 2023 Colorado State graduate also helped get the brand-new state-of-the-art advanced media studio in the league’s new Washington DC offices up and running, resulting in the first ever Atlantic 10 in-house produced studio shows during the Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships.
 
Prior to the Atlantic 10, Abashian was the Sports Director and Assistant Executive Producer at CTV Channel 11 in Fort Collins, Colorado and worked on numerous videography-related freelance projects. He graduated from Colorado State with a degree in Journalism and Media Communication.